Thailand's 'Land Bridge' Project Faces Setback Amid Economic Viability Concerns

Thailand's ambitious 'Land Bridge' infrastructure project, intended to connect the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea and alleviate maritime transit bottlenecks, is facing significant challenges regarding its economic viability. A special committee tasked with evaluating the project's feasibility has concluded that the 'Land Bridge' initiative is "unlikely to be feasible." The committee's report highlights that the project could impose a substantial financial burden on the nation and carries considerable risks. Following this assessment, Mr. Chaichana Dechdecho, Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party and responsible for the southern region, urged the government to seriously consider the committee's findings. He stated, "Given the findings that the project is high-risk and not economically worthwhile, the government should not proceed with a plan that could burden the country's finances in the future." Mr. Chaichana further proposed that the budget allocated for the 'Land Bridge' project be redirected to more effective infrastructure development. Specifically, he advocated for accelerating the enhancement of railway infrastructure in the South, including strengthening rail connections to key southern ports such as Padang Besar, Kantang, and Ranong. He also suggested expanding rail links with ports nationwide to boost logistics capabilities, reduce transportation costs, and enhance national competitiveness. Additionally, Mr. Chaichana proposed developing the Thung Song district in Nakhon Si Thammarat province into a southern logistics hub, similar to the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Lat Krabang, Bangkok. This hub would efficiently integrate rail, road, and port transportation for cargo. He emphasized, "Future investments in large-scale projects must be based on thorough data, economic rationality, and most importantly, must listen to the voice of the people. Today's committee findings reflect listening to the public, and we expect the government to do the same, as every baht is taxpayer money that must be used for maximum benefit." Source: INN News